abrargill

Up for sale is my much loved valver, owned for the last 20 years. Whilst on the road, it has always been serviced regularly. I have lots and lots of receipts / service history sheets of work done to maintain the upkeep of the car since 1997 to 2012. However life has now taken over and for the last 5 years I have not had the time or the money to keep the car on the road and it has therefore been sitting SORN declared on my drive. It is in fair condition for it's age. Body is a beautiful deep pearlescent Blue and reasonably clean apart from a few rust spots and some areas where the lacquer is bubbling due to age (see photos on eBay) The wheels are the classic BBS alloys and 3 of them are in good condition whilst the 4th probably needs a refurb (see photos on eBay). The most recent work I did on it before it was SORN declared was a new starter motor, power steering pump, water pump, clutch, wishbones, ball joints, anti roll bars and door handles repaired (curtousy of this forumn). It also has a classic face-off Pioneer CD and USB Radio with Kenwood speakers in the rear parcel shelf. It is also fitted with a Hornet Cat 1 Alarm which closes the doors and windows. The engine is in good condition, however the car does not start due to some blockage in the fuel line. I have recently had a mechanic look at this but with the difficulty/cost of sourcing Corrado parts I was unable to resolve this. I have a box of fuel line, fuel pump parts which I sourced off eBay in attempt to get the job fixed but was unable to find a suitable mechanic. Whoever buys this car can take the parts too. The rear spoiler is also stuck in the lift position which is probably related to a fuel pump / fuse issue. As standard on these age Corrado's the sunroof needs attention as it sticks. Whoever collects this car will need to tow it away. This car will suit someone who is a Corrado lover and want's a bargain classic and who has the time and enthusiasm to continue to keep this car going from where I have left off. I will be very sad to see this car go but will take some resolve in the fact that it will be going to someone who will keep it alive. There are not many 1.8 valvers left as they were the earlier models. Dare I say it but could become more rarer than the Storm? I've posted my Corrado on eBay auction but wanted to let anyone here know too in case there was interest. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-Corrado-16v-1-8/142577522196?hash=item2132485614:g:avQAAOSw-wJaCHLF

Veedubbed - thanks for reply. I've just PM'd you my details.

Hi Guys I have a 1990 1.8 16v. I need new fuel pipes as they are corroded and leaking fuel. I need pipes for all 4 cylinders. Anyone got any or can point me in the right direction? I have attached the parts spec.

Black Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

Hi Rod, Do you have the two plastic housings for the handbrake? The plastic sleeve and the plastic console? Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

Ok, ok, I'm keeping it. Question is should I respray it or keep it original. Laquore is peeling on bonnet and around front wing. Any tips? Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

Ok, so the conclusion is keep the Rado! That means I need to invest in a full body respray so she keeps her appearance. Does anyone know of a good bodyshop in the Southeast/East London, Kent or Essex area? I am thinking strip her to bare metal, fix any rust spots and blemishes in bodywork and full top to toe respray inc, alloy refurbs. Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

Will keep a note of the list. Thanks Abdul. Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

Abdul, that's an impressive "what I want to do to my Rado" list you have. Sounds like a good project. Maybe when I get my VR6 we could team up and work on my Helios blue Valver! Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

Ok. Sounds like Scarlet summed it up. Keep the Valver and buy a VR6. Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

The engine is good, 89k only. What kinda mods could I do? Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

Another question that I have been contemplating is shall I swap my Valver for a VR6? I've always wanted a VR6 but couldn't afford one at the time. However am a bit nervous as I know my Valver inside out, having owned it since 97. With the VR6 there is the joys of driving a bigger beast but also the uncertainty of further costs - dilemma! What would you guys advise, stick with the Valver or go for the VR6? Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

Guys, what an overwhelming response. I wasnt expecting so much encouragement. The points made about depreciation on new cars is so true. And the fact that new parts are nice for the car. I appreciate your comments guys and don't feel so insane for keeping my Valver alive. I guess I just needed reassurance from like minded souls, and in the future I will just tell fellow Rado owners how much I'm spending instead of the average Joe. Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

Hey do you still have the exhaust system? Also how old is it? Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

On average I spending approx £700 per year on repairs and servicing, to keep my 1990 16v Rado alive! Am I nuts? Should I bite the bullet and strip it for parts or keep going? My whole family and work colleagues think I'm nuts. For example, I just spent £560 to on some new wishbones, bushes, balljoints, anti-roll links last month. I may need to spend a further £225, on a replacement supersprint back box to pass next months MOT! Someone tell me I'm not crazy! Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

how much for the pair of front wishbones, bushes and ball joints?

Simon, what happened in your case? I called trading standards and they advised me to write to the garage in question, asking them for a refund for the work they didn't complete. To givethem 10 days to reply and if they haven't then trading standards will take them on. Now that i fixed.the oil leak I have noticed that coolant is leaking just above the PAS pump. The garage changed the water pump when they did the timimg belt, so not sure if that job has been done now. Coolant only seems to be leaking aftet the car has been driven. If its stationary for a couple of days then there is no leak! I'm just peeved that they have messed around with my baby. What was supposed.to be simple maimtenance work has created more work. The piece of advice the Trading standards gave me is to check.if a garage has signed up.to the new motor industry codes of practice. This is the web link for everyone www.motorcodes.co.uk A garage that has signed up to this must adhere to strict.guidelines or they will be investigated. As consumers we can complain to this authority if we have a problem with a garage. I will now be vetting any future garages before i let them near my baby.

Thanks Tandino, i might take you up on your offer. I'm based in Bexleyheath near Dartford, would prob be under 90mins drive to you. Ok Colin, the garage in question is based in Bromley. Apart from that I can't name them until Trading Standards have concluded their investigations. Monzablau16v good point about keeping the parts. The only thing, sometimes they need to exchange the old part to get discount price. Also, how can you be certain the part they are showing u is off your car not another? I'm going to call trading standards and my card company today, will update you guys.

Thanks for the words of advice. My boss mentioned reporting them to the trading standards. I think i will give them a call on Monday. The only remideal work i done is the sump replacement. The timing belt is still there and the F'ing Reanult PAS pump. I have the old sump.to.prove the damage but they could just say old.car, its rusted. Good point Majik about using my brother in-law's mate in the first place. Its a lesson i have learnt the hard way. The only reason i didn't use him is he is a little far and he usually fits the jobs he does for family and friends around his other customers so you have to wait e.g. the sump replacement took a week, but then maybe i just need to be patient if i want the job done well. Ok the only reason why i haven't named them is after i collected the car, i went through the bill and was shocked at the part prices on the invoice, they seemed to be more than eurocarparts. So i printed them off the euro car website and went back to them. I told the guy that the prices were cheaper on euro car parts. He said that are you sure they are for your model. When i showed him the printout he started saying he had spent a long time on my car as it was so old and he hadn't charged me for any of the xtra labour time he had spent. But when said that it looks like he'd charged for the xtra time through the inflated part prices instead, he went to his till grabbed £60 and put it on the counter. He then said i don't want to see you or your car again. At the point i should have grabbed the money and told him where to stick it but i listened to my pragmatic side instead. I know how hard graft it is labourering over a car and didn't want to rob someone of their time. I told him that and if he really thought he deserved the money then keep it. He just nodded and apologised for his behaviour and we ended it at that. Its only when my bro-in-law's mechanic told me that the timing looked over 3 years old that felt sick! But then what if its a new belt but has worn in? I want to name and shame them.but what if i am wrong? :shrug:

Just had a very bad experience with a local garage (who will remain annonymous) whilst they were replacing my cam belt. I used these guys previously when they changed my clutch and starter motor. However, upon picking up the car I noticed lacquer had peeled off from my bonnet. When I confronted them they told me it was already like that when I left the car with them....no way, as I know my car! However, I thought maybe give them the benefit of the doubt and perhaps it happened overnight or something - bad mistake...should have followed my gut instinct. I took the car back to them to change the cambelt, bump stops and water pump. While they were changing this they told me that the power steering pump has failed. Then they called me to tell me that the PAS pipe from the pump to the rack had got damaged! Obviously the pipe was no longer available and I managed to source one from the forumn. When I collected the car they told me that VW no longer supplied the PAS pumps (which I know was a lie as I had already rung them for a quote when they called me). So they told me they fitted PAS pump from a Renault! When I told them the VW pump was available, they were adament it was discontinued....the guy even said "why would I have spent the time modify this pump to fit your car if I could just get it from the dealer?".....So I asked him to show me the pump to see how it was fitted. When I looked at it, it looked new was sitting ok, however I noticed some oil around the oil sump opposite the pump. I asked him why there was oil there and he said it didn't know anything about it. So I took it home. The next day when I drove away I noticed oil drops on my drive right under the sump! I took a further look and noticed that there was a dent in the sump opposite the PAS Pump!!!!! :bad-words: These fcukers have really scre$ed with my car.....and have turned out to be the cowboy mechanics from hell! And to finally top it, to sort out the car with a new sump I took it to my brother in laws mate who is mechanic and he told me that the timing belt hadn't been changed, only the pulley! Why?!? In total these guys have charged me £580 for a timing belt kit replacement, water pump, PAS pump and PAS pump pipe repair! :mad2: Very upset and feel fustrated that I can't do anything about it. Only thing I was thinking of doing was raising a dispute with my credit card company as I paid them with my card? Does anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks David. Apparently its the metal section that's got a small hole in it. I went local Dealers in Dartford and checked for part number 192 422 893 A and they told me the bad news that VW stopped making the part from Sept 2009 - damn it! Not sure what to do now :confused4:

Thanks David. Yes the mechanic at the garage is saying the same thing - said something about having to adapt the "flannage" because he can't get hold of the exact same part. However now the high pressure hose between pump and rack has got a tiny whole in it, while trying to change the pump! Again, he said he is going to try to repair it? Is that possible? Feel like wool being pulled over my eyes! :pale:

Thanks for that. Will try and source one from VW at trade. They were quoting me £220 + vat non.trade

Pump has gone on my PAS for my 1.8 16v 1990 C. Is there a difference between the early and late models? I ask becoz the parts supplied by eurocars are pushing out my fan belt. N e help will be great!

Recently Two months ago afrer returning my C back from SORN status, a guy knocked on my front door asking if it was for sale. He said he's been looking for a C and noticed mine parked there a couple of weeks. Last Friday, while pulling out of a car park, a driver in the new Golf GTI gave me way and signalled a thumbs up at my C. Makes my recent cam belt, clutch, starter motor worth the while.